Frank Eugene Raines' Obituary
Frank E. Raines, 72, of Gainesville, Florida passed away in Gainesville on December 31, 2022 after a long battle with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Frank was born in 1950 in DeWitt, Arkansas to Ella and Milburn Raines.
He graduated from DeWitt High School in 1968 and attended Arkansas State University where he received a BS in Accounting in 1974 and was a very active member Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
His military service began in June of 1974 when he entered Aviation Officers Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned in October of 1974 and designated a Naval Aviator in November of 1976.
Upon completion of flight training, Frank was assigned to Patrol Squadron One, located at Barbers Point, Hawaii, flying the P-3B Orion. He participated in deployments to NAS Cubi Point, Republic of the Philippines, and NAS Agana, Guam. While attached to VP-1, Frank performed the duties of the Squadron Legal Officer and various Maintenance Branch Officer positions. He was designated a Patrol Plane Commander and Patrol Plane Mission Commander.
In October of 1979, Frank reported to Training Squadron Twenty-Eight, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, where he was designated an Advanced Multi-engine Instructor in the T-44 aircraft. Completing his active-duty commitment, he departed VT-28 and the Active Duty Navy in November of 1980 for a job with Delta Airlines. Frank was awarded three Navy Commendation Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Battle "E" Ribbons, two National Defense Medals, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, a Reserve Deployment Ribbon and two Navy Reserve Medals. Frank was an avid duck hunter, golfer, backpacker, hiker and long-range target shooter. In his civilian career Frank was a Captain with Delta Air Lines, flying the MacDonald Douglas MD-88, Boeing 727, 737, 757, 767 and the 777. He retired as an International Captain from Delta after 35 years of service. It was during his Delta career that he met the love of his life, Darla Skipper. They were married for 37 years.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents. His is survived by his wife Darla, two sisters: Margaret Davis and JoAnn Wallace, three sisters-in-law: Susan Crowley, Leslie Skipper and Janet Sussenbach (Jim) and many nephews and nieces and grandnephews and grandnieces. Also, very special to Frank were his many Navy and civilian friends.
A Memorial Service with military honors will be held Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 10:00AM at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Ave., Gainesville, FL. with Reverends Catherine and Steve Price officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the Godfrey Thomas Foundation, Inc, c/o Mary Botts Carr, Hwy 152, Hagan-Carr Lane, Humphrey, Arkansas 72072. This loan fund - established in 1967 - made college possible for Frank and other DeWitt, Arkansas students in need.
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